Donald C. Zabel

Donald Charles Joel Zabel
1920 – 2009

Donald Charles Joel Zabel was born December 6, 1920 at home on the family farm in Long Prairie, Minnesota. He was the first child of Charles and Minnie (Maser) Zabel. Following a move to Faribault in southern Minnesota, his only sibling, Kenneth Zabel, was born. In Faribault, Don enjoyed fishing, ice skating, playing basketball, and exploring caves like Huck Finn. He held various jobs as a teenager during the depression. One job was ushering in the local movie house where he developed a love of old movies. One day he ushered a group of girls to their seats not knowing that one of them was his future wife.

After graduating from Faribault High School, he joined the U.S. Marines on August 31, 1942 and served until October 9, 1945. He participated in active operations against enemy forces at Cape Glousester, New Britain, Peleliu Island, Palau Island, etc.

After the war, Don moved to Minneapolis and worked various jobs while going to business school at the University of Minnesota in the evenings. One evening at the Marigold Ballroom, he asked Dorothea Blume to dance. They learned they were from the same home town.

They were married on September 26, 1947 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Bradley was born in 1954 and Joan in 1956. Don coached Bradley in Little League, played board games with Joan, and served in the Civil Defense. The family enjoyed many trips to the lakes, family farms near Faribault, and to Grand Rapids to visit brother, Ken, and his family.

In 1966, allergies and wanderlust prompted the family move to Denver. Don came first, picked Trinity Lutheran Church, and bought a home near by. He loved the mountains and western culture. In Denver, Don worked as an accountant and business manager at various companies, retiring in 1986. He was overjoyed when granddaughters Lisa, Wendy, and Erin came into his life in the 1980's. Two teenaged step-granddaughters, Megan and Wendelyn, entered the family in 1996. Don loved to babysit and was always at the girls' important events.

Don was a brave man who survived cancer twice, faced the challenges of life, and observed its joys with quiet, thoughtful strength.

Don had a strong Christian faith. On the battlefields, he relied on his faith and was happy to find himself in the same fox hole as the chaplain one night. On October 1, 2009, Don went to be with his Lord where he will someday welcome his dear family: his wife of 62 years, Dorothea, his children, Bradley and Joan, his daughter-in-law, Anne, his son-in-law, John, his granddaughters, Lisa, Wendy, and Erin, his step-granddaughters, Megan and Wendelyn, his brother, Kenneth, his sister-in-law, Marlene, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial Contributions may be made to LCMS World Relief and Human Care, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis MO 63122-7226 or www.lcms.org. Please include a note with your donation - "In Memory of Donald Zabel".